I seriously could not sit down for a couple of days after Equinox Marina del Rey’s Empowering Self Defense class! Two fabulous trainers, Aaron Delgrolice and Junior Amazon, lead 6 women to punch, kick, flip, trip and get away quick!

I left ready to come back and keep on going! And the next day proved these trainers most definitely got the most out of me. I was sore, sore, sore! The experience could not have been more fun or motivating! You can read more about it through my article on Ask Miss A.

Sign yourself up for the next self defense class or jump in to start training with Aaron or Junior right away through Equinox Marina del Rey! Contact Benjamin.Fucanan@Equinox.com. He’ll set you up proper!

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Come out to Equinox Marina del Rey for a women’s defense class TODAY that will build confidence, skill and peace of mind. And, to top it off you’ll get your Equinox initiation fee waved, so you can join this fabulous, elegant, state-of-the art gym with ease!

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When I get that question posed to me, “What do you do? (to get in shape) a moment of hesitation always passes because I simply don’t know how to answer within the setting. I do a lot of different things based on the season, availability and my mood. So, when I’m asked the question I suddenly feel like I don’t do anything – well, anything in particular. I can’t. I would get totally bored and burnt out doing one or two things day in and day out, week by week, season after season. So, I mix it up accordingly. The result is that I continue to crave being active and keep my body ready for the next challenge.

photo credit: ESPN Body Issue

Our bodies are extremely resilient and adaptable. It’s the activity that dictates how our body metabolizes, builds or looses strength and agility. In essence, if you want to run 5-10 miles on soft sand 3 times a week, your body will lean out and build muscle in your core, calves, your toes even, and more as you continue to push your body to run. It will form the shape and strength to build efficiency for the particular activity you engage in.

photo credit: ESPN Body Issue

Look at the differences in the bodies of Olympic track sprinters, hurdlers and long distance runners. The long distance runners need endurance and lighter bodies to be efficient. They are ripped, but very, very lean. The sprinters and hurdlers need explosive legs and arms to propel themselves forward in quick, powerful spurts. So, their leg muscles (more leg muscles than you might think even exist) are massive. But, again they have ripped abs to keep their cores stable and centered, and amazingly strong arms to propel them faster in conjunction with each pump and lift off of each of their legs.

photo credit: ESPN Body Issue

If yoga is your main dish your body will lean out, become internally strong and very flexible in order to sustain deep turns and twists. You’ll find yourself engaging your core to enter into and hold stands that balance on and with otherwise inconceivable body parts. Your whole body will become self reliant in a very fluid manner. Again, your body follows the lead of your actions, because in essence your actions communicate to your body what it needs to sustain survival.

photo credit: Rising Lotus Yoga

If your thing is sitting, then your body will adjust accordingly to that need as well. You’ll even get some more “padding” to give your sit bones more comfort!

Asking the question, “What do you do?” to someone with a body type that you aspire to have is a good question to start with. But, I like to think about it this way; Think of what you’d like to be able to do. Doing anything active will make your body develop strength and shed weight that hinders its ability to act efficiently and effectively. DNA does play a part of course. But, I think that body types are more or less passed down through eating and activity habits that we learn and acquire, rather than predestination. And, unless you’re attempting to be highly competitive in a particular sport, your goals will most likely be more about being fit, lean and strong.

photo credit: ESPN Body Issue

So for me, I have a few staples that are my go-to’s for each season to give me a full body work out. And, then I always add in some extra activities to mix in throughout the week to keep me alert, interested, and my body ready to tackle new needs at a given notice.

As an example, over the last couple of weeks I’ve kept consistent with my staples for summer of cycling around 20-30 miles and running about 5 miles on the beach on alternate days. And intermittently I’ve gone horseback riding, kayaked, played tennis with friends for kicks, swam some laps, taken a Pilates and yoga class to keep loose and flexible, and have done a fair share of push ups, leg lifts and such to target specific body areas and to build strength. In turn, I’ve had a blast and kept my body engaged in both repetitive and varied activities that build endurance, strength, agility, and flexibility. And, in essence, I feel like I’ve been playing – not working.

photo credit: ESPN Body Issue

Try building in two or three full-body work outs for staples throughout your week. Cycling, yoga, rollerblading swimming, running, surfing are great options that are easy on the joints, so you’ll endure less wear and tear, and therefore be able to sustain them longer as seasonal or year-round staples. Maybe add in some strength training too, whether using body weight, resistance or added weights. There have been studies that show strength training is important for women to maintain healthy bone mass, especially as we age. Although, I’m not convinced that we have to become gym rats. Sports activities develop strength in major body areas naturally as well. I think however, doing push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, or working with rubber bands, free weights or nautilus weights, can indeed help to target specific areas to build up muscle mass or literally burn fat in that area away into muscle. But, definitely sprinkle in some time to “play” actively. Try a game of volleyball, get on a surf or boogie board, try out a paddle board, take a long walk at sunset, take a bootcamp or kickboxing class – anything to keep active, happy and challenged. If the main point for you is to build healthy habits to get optimal results, doesn’t it make sense to do what you will have fun with?

So, do what you love. Mix it up! Try new things! It’ll do your body, mind and spirit a great deal of good!

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I hate to say it. I hate to complain. But, I’m really tired of breathing in the airborne oils from other people spraying their SPF sunscreens nearby. I’m tired of getting it in my eyes.

It seems no matter how much I try to block the spray from entering into and landing upon my body, the spray somehow, relentlessly (albeit gently) finds its way to me. I put my arms up, my towel, my hands, my book in front of my face, the bill of my hat further down, I squint my eyes – even close them, but to no avail.

Should not it be our own choice what we put upon our skin? It cannot be healthy to breath in the oily substances, nor to have them glaze one’s eye. It may provide a bit of a smudged view of the outside world, to say the least.

Honestly, spray SPF’s are intrusive. And, they clearly are inefficient, seeing as the sunscreen in this form has proven to travel and land on and in many other areas other than what the sprayer intends. I seriously see no way to keep these mists of oils at bay, other than to just simply ban them altogether. Although, I don’t foresee that happening before summer’s end. So, instead, I solemnly swear to never use a spray SPF in effort to be considerate and less wasteful.

Kare is an elegant, professional clinic that offers a myriad of plastic surgery options, cosmetic dermatology, specifically targeted expert facials, and a “multidisciplinary” approach to managing skin cancers. The staff is friendly, efficient, competent, and lead by Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, a double board certified plastic surgeon, graduate of UCLA School of Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the UC Irvine, and published author.

(photo credit: Kare)

While I have not experienced Botox injections from Kare, I have been undergoing laser hair removal treatments for the last 6 months, and have only good feelings about the place, the people, and the product. I’m always greeted with a nice “hello,” whisked off quickly to the laser office, and have a personable and comfortable experience. Well, as comfortable as possible while getting zapped continuously under the arms with a hot beam of light, that is. Good thing a cooling breeze accompanies the laser! But, the best thing (beyond have smoother, hairless skin) is that I’m in and out of there in a swift 15 minutes. And, although the convenient underground parking cannot be validated, the total cost has been under $5 each time. So, I can get my treatment and be on with my day.

Kare has consistently given careful consideration to my time, the treatments, and to me as a person. Based on my experience, I imagine that the same kind of attention will be given to you and your Botox treatment as well.

So, give it a go! Tell them I sent you! And, let me know what you think!

(photo credit: Thrive Portland)

Now, if you don’t know what Botox is, what it does, or the identified side effects, let’s give it a whirl. Botox and Dysport are both products that are made of the chemical Botulinum toxin. It’s injected into key areas, usually along the brow-line, forehead, and the corners of the eyes, to inhibit the ability of targeted muscles from contracting. The result seemingly retracts the time, denied hydration and other damaging elements that facilitate the formation of namely frown lines, crows feet and worry lines. And, while expression is more than beautiful, you may not want to wear the emotions of elation, fury and anxiety upon your face all at the same time.

(photo credit: In With Skin)

What’s actually happening to deny the creases from showing off is that the Botulinum is blocking the release of acetylcholine right between the nerve and muscle, thereby disallowing movement. Inhibiting movement acts as a preventative measure to keep wrinkles that are already present from deepening, and immediately smooths out those wrinkles too. Artistically injected, a brow and eye-lift can create a nice effect as well. The good thing about both of these products is that they do wear off gradually over the course of a few months, so you can adjust the injections to ultimately get the look you’re after or even stop using the product if you want to go back to au natural!

(photo credit: Botox Cosmetics)

(photo credit: Botox Cosmetics)

The side effects found are possible bruising or soreness, but these are atypical. Also, it’s possible to get a droopy brow if the injections are not placed well. This is why it is important that you go to someone who is highly qualified and gives careful attention to the structure of your face. It’s always important too, to get a consultation, so you feel comfortable and can establish a plan between you and you doctor. And, at Kare you will receive what you need.

Young green coconut water provides a hydrating, cleansing, potassium rich lubricant for the organs – inside and out, that will show off its benefits through your energy level and in the glow of your skin. But, beware! If you chug a liter or two in one quick sitting you may feel the subsequent lubrication work its way into your bowels in a fierce manner. So be ready for the super cleansing effects at a moment notice. Although this may serve as a good for you, I’d recommend a constant dose of coconut water throughout the day to keep your system balanced and happy.

That all being said, the coconut provides many amazing healthy treats, that I seriously cannot get enough of. And, once you get beyond the distinctive taste (that personally takes me back to my childhood experience of the remnants of a bowl of fruit loops) you’ll be reveling in the benefits too. From my reading I’ve discovered that the vast amounts of potassium in coconut water far exceeds that of the potassium levels in sports drinks, and to top that off, provides natural vs. manufactured electrolytes that will keep your body going throughout your Olympian training, hard-core work-out, or even your day of work under those blaring ultraviolet lights and stale air-conditioned air. Any way you turn your day, hydration is key. This is a known fact. What I learned recently is that when you consistently flush your body of toxins with a diuretic like coconut water, your system does not have to rely on your liver and kidney to cleanse your body. Sounds like a good deal to me! And, in the line of that – goodbye nasty cranberry juice in the light of an oncoming bladder infection. Coconut water will keep you clean, cleansed, and happy! Because the hydration from this precious tropical nectar is like no other. It actually has the same electrolyte content as found in human blood and was used intravenously in WWII. You can’t say that about Gatorade. Although, some sports doctors say that the natural coconut does not provide enough sodium for athletes. I say, shake a little extra sea-salt on your meal. The minerals, vitamins, electrolytes found in coconut water have such a healing effect, that there are studies showing that it cleanses our bladders, relieves out kidneys and livers from unnecessarily hard work, clears our pores and hydrates the skin, helps with glaucoma, and may even help reduce cancer risks. Give it a go! Crack that cocunut! And, see what you think! I’d love to know what benefits you reap from drinking this jewel – coconut water! Try One, Vitacoco or Zico!

Actually, One Coconut Water seems to me making the rounds recently. I found a stack of One bottles ready for the VIP at Sole Society’s fundraiser for The Art of Elisium! And, I must say, it was a tasty, tasty treat!